Triple murderer faces death penalty hearing

Published 8:08 pm, Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Richard Roszkowski in a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 in Bridgeport Superior Court. Roszkowski will face a death penalty hearing in September State Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin ruled on Wednesday July 10, 2013. less

Richard Roszkowski in a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 in Bridgeport Superior Court. Roszkowski will face a death penalty hearing in September State Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin ruled on ... more

Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin denied a last ditch effort by Richard Roszkowski’s lawyers to have their client found incompetent to stand trial. “I’ve been down this road with Mr. Roszkowski before for months and months and months,” Devlin lamented in denying the motion for a competency examination. “This is not a justified request.” Roszkowski was convicted for the 2006 murders of his former girlfriend, her 9-year-old daughter and his former roommate. less

Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin denied a last ditch effort by Richard Roszkowski’s lawyers to have their client found incompetent to stand trial. “I’ve been down this road with Mr. Roszkowski before ... more

"I've been down this road with Mr. Roszkowski before for months and months and months," Devlin said in denying the motion for a competency examination. "This is not a justified request."

The judge then scheduled a September hearing on whether Roszkowski should get the death penalty or life in prison without release. The hearing will be held before Judge John Blawie and a 12-person jury.

In April, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a law repealing the death penalty for any new cases. Roszkowski's case predates that law and, if the jury finds it is warranted, he could join the nine men on death row now.

Roszkowski, who lived with his mother in a Trumbull senior citizens complex, was convicted in 2009 of forcing his former lover to drive him to Bridgeport's East End with her 9-year-old daughter where he shot her in the head in front of the girl.

A landscaper who was nearby sought to intercede and he was gunned down by Roszkowski, who then chased the girl down the street, shooting her in the back of the thigh, face and the side of the head at close range as she begged for her life.

Although the same jury that convicted Roszkowski of the crime subsequently found he should get the death penalty, the verdict was overturned on a technicality and a new penalty hearing was ordered.